Oceans Policy

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The Astrolabe

An ancient instrument for solving problems of location and distance, as well as time

Astrolábon órganon is the word used in Ptolemaeus Syntaxis 5.1 to describe a form of armillary sphere consisting of both fixed and rotating rings for determining the ecliptic co-ordinates of stars. Also called astrolabe were two-dimensional representations of the celestial sphere: over fixed disks with a representation of the horizon of the earth (in each case for a specific geographic latitude) and its parallels up to the zenith lies a rotating representation of the heavens (called ‘spider’ or ‘net’) with zodiac and indicators for some of the brightest stars. On the back is an indicator (‘alidade’) with visor plates for calculating the height of the stars. The astrolabe allows its user to determine the hours of day and night, the positions of stars, and the height and depth of objects on earth (mountains, buildings, wells). The oldest extant descriptions of the flat, planispheric astrolabe come from Iohannes Philoponus, 6th century AD, and (in Syrian) from Severus Sebokht, c. 660 AD. Indirect references may date back as early as Theon (4th cent.). Between the 8th and the 9th centuries the Arabs appropriated the knowledge of the astrolabe. At the end of the 10th century and again in the 12th century, they passed it on to Western Europe, where astrolabes were constructed up until the 17th cent. Today, one Byzantine astrolabe (from 1062) is extant, as are some 750 Arabic-Islamic astrolabes and approximately the same number of European astrolabes.

This information is abstracted from Brill's New Pauly, the English edition of the authoritative Der Neue Pauly, Encyclopaedia of the Ancient World. The encyclopaedic coverage and high academic standard of the work, the interdisciplinary and contemporary approach and clear and accessible presentation have made the New Pauly the unrivalled modern reference work for the ancient world. For more information see www.brillsnewpauly.com or visit our website catalog: www.brill.nl/bnp
Brill’s New Pauly and the complete original Der Neue Pauly, the recognized standard reference works for students and scholars of the ancient world are also available online. This dual-language edition offers basic and advanced search facilities and is fully browsable. New English translations are added as they become available. See www.paulyonline.brill.nl for more information and a demo version.

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Publications & Services> Books> Book Series> Oceans Policy

Oceans Policy

New Institutions, Challenges and Opportunities

Edited by John Norton Moore and Myron H. Nordquist

Books

Available
Publication year: 1999


Series:	Center for Oceans Law and Policy, 3
ISBN-13 (i)The ISBN (International Standard Book Number) has been changed from 10 to 13 digits on 1 January 2007:	978 90 41 11182 1
ISBN-10:	90 41 11182 4

Cover:	Hardback
Number of pages:	360 pp.

List price:	€ 191.00 / US$ 268.00

Table of contents

Prefatory Note. Note by the Editors. Welcoming Remarks; J.N. Moore. Keynote Addresses. Luncheon Address; The Honorable S. Nandan. Future Role of the United Nations in Oceans and Law of the Sea; The Honorable H. Corell. Panel I: The International Seabed Authority. Remarks of the Moderator; B. Moore. Administering the Resources of the Area: Converting Polymetallic Resources of the Area into Reserves; N.A. Odunton. The International Seabed Authority and The Development of the Mining Code; M. Lodge. Panel II: The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. Advisory Opinions by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea or Its Seabed Disputes Chamber; L.B. Sohn. The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea: The First Year; T.A. Mensah. The Jurisdiction of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea: An Overview; H. Caminos. The Working Methods of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea; G. Eiriksson. Panel III: Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf. Remarks of the Moderator; R. Smith. The Continental Shelf Commission; N. Newton St. Claver Francis. Comments on the Continental Shelf Commission; R. Haworth. Panel IV: Caribbean Drug Challenges. Remarks of the Moderator; P. Blayney. Bilateral Maritime Agreements Enhancing International Cooperation in the Suppression of Ilicit Maritime Narcotics Trafficking; M.J. Williams. Comments on Caribbean Drug Challenges; K. Rattray. Comments on Caribbean Drug Challenges; G. Roberts. IMO Guidelines for the Prevention and Suppression of Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Precursor Chemicals on Ships Engaged in International Maritime Traffic; P. `Pete' Pedrozo. Panel V: International Ocean Policy Challenges. Remarks of the Moderator; C.A. Allen. Applied Oceanography: A Key Ingredient of Ocean Policy; J.M. Bishop. The United States Navy: Into the Next Millenium; R.J. Grunawalt. Panel VI: Ocean Policy Opportunities. Comments on Ocean Policy Opportunities: Confronting Piracy and Armed Robbery at Sea; C.A. Allen. Implementation of Caribbean Maritime Counter-Narcotics Cooperation Report; G.-J. Van Hegelsom. Shipwrecks: Reconciling Salvage and Underwater Archaeology; J.A. Roach. Concluding Remarks; J.N. Moore.

Oceans Policy: New Institutions, Challenges and Opportunities draws attention to three new international institutions created by the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea. The International Seabed Authority located in Jamaica governs global activities to convert polymetallic resources into reserves of metal. The Legal Counsel for the Authority provides the first public review of the Authority's draft Mining Code containing the rules, regulations, and procedures for deep seabed mining. The second institution dealt with is the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. Professor Louis Sohn outlines several innovative uses of advisory opinions available to the Tribunal while the President of the Tribunal reports on a busy first year of work by this new institution located in Hamburg. Other items discussed are the jurisdiction of the Tribunal and its working methods, including its rules, proceedings and internal procedures.
The third international institution established to implement the 1980 Convention is the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf beyond 200 nautical miles. An explanation is given of the geographical context for the development of the legal concept of the Continental Shelf. The principal problems that the Commission must resolve are summarized, in particular with respect to the definition in the Convention of the outer limit of the Continental Shelf.
The fourth part of this work is focused on the global challenges posed by drug trafficking in the Caribbean region. The international legal framework governing intercepting illegal drug shipments at sea is analyzed. Recent counter-drug initiatives undertaken at the International Maritime Organization are then reviewed. The book also contains discussion of the growing threat to ocean freedom posed by piracy and armed robbery at sea, as well as the increasing problems in reconciling the rules for salvage of shipwrecks and underwater archeology.
The publication is based on a conference held in Jamaica that was organized by the Center for Oceans Law and Policy, University of Virginia School of Law.

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